Entry 196; Day 460

[misterblackbird]

[Filtered from DELILAH || Unhackable]
Merryweather seems to have gone out early this morning and not told me where she's off to.

[Filtered to Opera Abandoned Residents || Unhackable]
Or has she gone out, truly?

I've seen this pattern before, where one's things are left virtually undisturbed, the doors and windows are locked, there's no sign of struggle. I saw it when Lailis vanished from the City, and I saw when Merry was briefly sent him.

Her school books are all still laid out. And her shoes are in her closet, her dresses, the coat she wore just last week in the snow. She has a small Network device that I ask her to carry with her, and even that has been left behind.

Yes, I know what you are all thinking: perhaps she's gone home. I should both like to think that and despise that thought.

At the same time, as most of you know, we--she, and Riff, and I--are not on the best of terms with everyone in the City. I mention this because, although I don't know that something like this is within their skill, they would seek to catch her. But surely they couldn't leave the room untouched like this, with only Merry herself gone.

Hence my concern, of course. So if any of you saw her going out this morning, leaving with anyone, or if you saw anyone peculiar coming in, even if it was a child or seemed a child, I must know it.

It would be simple to slide into acceptance that the City had taken her home, and yet she might still be here, tormented, with no hope of rescue because we think she is happily gone home.

SO if you've any word of her, if she told you she was going somewhere early this morning, if you saw her leave, you must tell me.
[//end Opera Abandoned filter]

If anyone in the City has seen my sister, I wish to speak to you immediately. She has friends, I know, amongst some of the other children in the City. What game might you be playing that she wouldn't tell me where she was going? I hope her friends will come forward for her sake. The City is not a safe place for someone so young as her to wander about.

Merryweather Hargreaves


Where was she seen? And with whom? Where were they going?

[Filtered to Riff || Unhackable]
Riff, I'm going to have to look for her in the Hall of the Missing if nothing comes of this search. It's the last thing I want to do. If she's there--

If she's there, then she's gone home, and she's far safer there than she is here. She's gone once before, so perhaps she'll come back. Either way, when she did come back, she had a regular Alice in Wonderland tale that you and I were still there in London, even as we were in the City. I promise, I'm not mad, but the time is out of joint here. So even if she is there, she'll be well looked-after--by you and I, no less.

I'm not going to check for her here until I'm certain she can be nowhere else.

We never did have the picnic is Xanadu she wanted.
[//end filter]

To hell with the curses of late. You know when I'm cursed and when I'm not, and no one pays mind to what goes on during a curse except the one cursed. The City has a sorry sense of humour.

I saw the ripples across the sky last night, and I heard the cries and falls. I take it the great escape didn't work. I suppose I'm not entirely surprised, but, yes, I am disappointed for you. It was a worthwhile try. And yet, Merry may have got out just after it--I call that irony--

~C.

[ooc: Merry's gone home, but Cain isn't yet sure of that. This was one of the saddest posts I've ever written. Don't expect a happy Cain for a while. He hates when this happens. Well, maybe this will prompt him to get a move on with things?]

Comments

Filtered from the Deities~

[darklilprincess.livejournal.com]

We were unsuccessful. And now...

I feel like the Deities are punishing us... Those who wish to go home are still here, and those who do not, seem to have vanished.

I'd offer to help look for your sister, Cain-sama, but... I am in no condition to be of any help at the moment.

Filtered from the Deities~

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

They may very well have known all along what you were up to. This is their city, after all.

Were you wounded during the attempt to escape?

Filtered from the Deities~

[darklilprincess.livejournal.com]

And this is their punishment. Shiki-san told me the Deities would be sure to provide grave consequences...

This is a nightmare.

Nothing too bad that can't be healed in a few days... I'll be alright, but I do hope you find your sister. I wish I had met her.

[ooc: she's lying of course. She's hurt pretty bad.]

[scienceinacan.livejournal.com]

Some failure~

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

A fair bit of failure if none of you got out.

[scienceinacan.livejournal.com]

Hey! I wasn't part of all of this! I was an innocent bystander!

Can you believe it! They almost accidentally made owl bbq of my 003! My wonderful 003!

[ruined-arcana.livejournal.com]

My lord... I certainly had no expectation that she'd...
Let's look for her together.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Yes, let's do.

Riff, you're to stay by my side the whole of time we're looking for her.

I forbid you to leave.
I forbid it.

[ooc: It's fine! I mostly put that there because it would be OOC for Cain not go go "OMG RIFF!"]

[ruined-arcana.livejournal.com]

I was awake early as usual, and I heard nothing out of sorts. If she left on foot, or if someone came for her, it was done very quietly. But we will look.

My lord, you know that I will do everything in my power not to.

[shanghai-lotis.livejournal.com]

... I'll keep an eye out, alright?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I would greatly appreciate that, Miss Mei Lin. Thank you.

[shanghai-lotis.livejournal.com]

No need to thank me.

I hope we find her.

Same Filter;

[ourdenouement.livejournal.com]

Miss Merry has gone missing?

Same Filter;

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

She has. You haven't seen her today at all, have you?

Same Filter;

[ourdenouement.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid not, Earl. But I'll keep a close eye out, hmm?

[ private | unhackable ]

[roseblooms.livejournal.com]

Cain... do let me know what happens, please? There's no action on their end, for certain. If anything, she's free from their harm, at least.

I'll keep a look out too. Last night just... shook up even my senses. What were they all thinking??


[ooc; ;_; Cain can has assurance that Delilah has no part in it, at least? She's sensing his upset ;; ]

[ private | unhackable ]

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

That's reassuring to know it wasn't them. That was my first though when I couldn't find her this morning. I know they've gone after her before. Thank you. Please tell me the moment you hear anything--if you hear anything.

Desperation drives people into foolish acts. Although it seems foolish now, it was worth a try. I had my doubts about it working, but there's always a chance.

[ooc: Well, that's some comfort ♥ He's more than a little upset ;.;]

[ private | unhackable ]

[roseblooms.livejournal.com]

I've been monitoring things as best as I can... and I'm certain she will be safe, Cain.

It just... bothered me that something on this grand a scale was attempted and failed at all. The deities, they are who I am fearing and to think of what might happen now, to everyone else including the people who were involved...

[ooc; Cain ;_; Mama will... do. Something. Maybe sdlghldsg. ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS HUG HIM BETTER but things are never that easy DDDD8 ]

[dclx.livejournal.com]

...

I can help look.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Are you certain? It's bound to be a long, tiresome day.

[dclx.livejournal.com]

I can't do much when people are in trouble 'cause I'm still not very good at magic yet, b-but if it's looking for someone then I can do it!

Plus, you're mama's friend.

Opera House Filter;

[mizrahigirl.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen anything.

I'm sorry.

Opera House Filter;

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Then perhaps she didn't go out. Thank you, Miss Mizrahi.

Opera House filter

[princess-crow.livejournal.com]

There is a way to know for sure and stop holding our breaths: The Hall of the Missing, Earl. Visit and see if your sister is counted among the departed.

Opera House filter

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know. I'll go, but not right away, and Riff will have to be with me--